Fairfield Minerals tests targets near Siwash zone

Diamond drilling at the Siwash gold mine near Merritt, B.C., continued during the third quarter of 1996, and Fairfield Minerals (FFD-T) remains encouraged by the results.

Forty-two holes, drilled over 7,480 ft., tested five areas near the high-grade Siwash zone, which produced more than 51,000 oz. between 1992 and 1995.

Total indicated and inferred reserves stand at 135,300 tons grading 0.74 oz.

gold per ton, and last year’s program attempted to expand reserves by means of widely spaced drilling outside the main Siwash structure. Drilling was also applied to a near-surface section of the Siwash vein.

Fairfield is currently preparing an update of the mineral inventory.

Last summer’s program uncovered a new vein system — the WD, 650 ft. north of, and parallel to, the main Siwash vein. Three of the holes drilled returned up to 5.17 oz. gold over 1.6 ft., and the system remains open at depth and along strike.

In September, three holes further explored the western portion of the WD vein. Two returned significant intercepts in an area accessible from the existing underground development on the Siwash structure.

A flat-lying vein, the X zone, underlies the Siwash vein, and Fairfield is exploring the possibility of an open-pit operation encompassing both zones.

Several closely spaced holes drilled in the area returned up to 1.36 oz. gold over 1.6 ft.

Drilling of a gold geochemical anomaly in the Gold Creek West area encountered a new vein system, the GC, 1,150 ft. south of the Siwash development. Of six widely spaced holes in this area, three returned values of 0.32-0.14 oz. gold over true widths of 1.6-4.9 ft. Fairfield says further drilling is required to explore for high-grade oreshoots within the structure.

In September, the remaining stockpiles of material grading more than 0.35 oz.

gold were shipped to the Asarco smelter in Helena, Mont. In all, about 3,000 tons containing an estimated 9,100 oz. gold and 11,500 oz. silver will be processed there. After deducting smelter charges, Fairfield will take possession of 8,000 oz. of gold bullion in February, to be held in inventory and sold later.